NOWADAYS, a lot is being said and much more is being done about the issue of Climate Change. But what is climate change? A simple definition from the United Nations is that climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
Indeed, such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. However, human activities play a big part in climate change.
Growing up as a child, in George Charles Boulevard, during the months of July, August and Early September, I was among scores of children on the Marchand Grounds flying kites, playing wind ball cricket and pitching marbles, among others. That time of the year was usually sunny and windy which allowed mostly boys to fly their kites.
Hurricanes did not come very often. Meaning that they were very far apart. However, I can remember that on 8th September 1967, Hurricane Beulah struck St. Lucia. The hurricane threw down the galvanised fencing of both the then Victoria Park, now Mindoo Philip Park, and the Marchand Grounds. At the time I was attending the Marchand Combined School.
Now 13 years later, 3rd. August 1980, Saint Lucia was again struck by Hurricane Allen. That night, it was really frightening. On the morning of 4th August, hardly any trees were standing in the area where I lived at Arundel Hill.
In 1988, 1994 and 2004, there were three Tropical storms Gilbert, Debby and Bonnie in that order. The next hurricane after Allen was Hurricane Tomas which struck Saint Lucia in 2010, thirty years later.
Indeed, Hurricane Tomas was responsible for a total of 44 deaths in the Lesser and Greater Antilles. The islands of the Lesser Antilles include the Virgin Islands, Windward Islands and Leeward Islands. The hurricane battered Saint Lucia producing severe and widespread damage.
About 14 people died in Saint Lucia as a result of the passage of Hurricane Tomas in 2010.
Fourteen years later, that is 2024, Saint Lucia was struck by Hurricane Beryl. On 2nd July 2024, Beryl became the earliest category 5 hurricane to be formed in the Atlantic. Hurricane Beryl destroyed homes and vegetation on the islands -from Grenada to Saint Lucia.
Indeed, the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines including Mayreau, and Canouan came in for much damage from Beryl.
From Hurricane Beulah in 1967 to Hurricane Beryl in 2024 the average interval for the passage of hurricanes is about 14 years: Beulah in 1967; Allen in 1980; Tomas in 2010 and Beryl in 2024.
Indeed, there were three Tropical Storms as follows: 1988, 1994 and 2004.
Before 1966 when Tropical Storm Judith struck the Windward Islands, that period was relatively quiet.
Earlier in this article I indicated that as a child I had the opportunity to fly my kite, play ball cricket and pitch marbles during the summer vacation. And that was the period just prior to 1966.
Children of today are not so fortunate to enjoy their summer vacation in the way that I and many other children did. That’s because climate change has taken over.
Indeed, it must be observed that there has been constant rainfall from early June to the present, that is, November. And it would appear that the rain is not ready to ‘give up.’
More on Climate Change in subsequent articles.